The dinner continued with fine wine and delicate courses being served one after another. But for Ji Hyo, the air had turned cold again—this time not just because of Ji Hwan's presence, but because of the conversation itself.
The moment dessert was finished, the table talk naturally shifted toward business.
His father leaned back slightly, swirling his glass of red wine with a practiced hand as he started discussing stock movement, overseas partnerships, and corporate restructuring like it was nothing more than casual gossip.
Ji Hwan chimed in with sharp insights, his voice calm and confident, referencing figures and policies Ji Hyo could barely comprehend.
Ji Hyo sat there, quietly stabbing at a piece of fruit on his plate.
He couldn't keep up with any of it.
He didn't belong in this conversation. No matter how pretty the chandelier sparkled above them or how elegant the silverware in his hands was—it didn't change the fact that this world, their world, was a completely different reality from the one he used to know.
"You should learn from your brother," his father suddenly said, not even looking at him. "At your age, he was already securing deals with international partners. Not chasing after pipe dreams in entertainment companies."
Ji Hyo blinked, lips parting slightly—but he didn't know what to say.
His mother quickly tried to defuse the tension, laughing awkwardly. "Let the child be, he's just finding his way. He's talented in his own field."
"Talent doesn't build empires," his father replied coldly. "We're not running a charity, Ji Hyun."
Ji Hyo's hand clenched under the table.
There it is again—that sharp jab. That cold dismissal. No matter what name he carries now, it feels the same… always belittled, always compared.
He glanced at his brother. Ji Hwan said nothing, but the slight upward curve at the corner of his lips was enough—smug satisfaction. He didn't even need to speak for the jab to land harder.
And then it hit him—he had forgotten all about his system quest.
His mind was too preoccupied by the uncomfortable atmosphere, the tension brewing over the table, the weight of invisible expectations pressing down on his shoulders.
So much for a simple family dinner, he thought bitterly. I'm not even sure I can complete the quest now…
He sighed inwardly, glancing out the restaurant's window. The city lights sparkled in the distance, far away and unreachable.
For a moment, he wondered if he really could continue this path.
Could someone like him—awkward, talent-deficient, and clearly out of place in his own family—really stand on stage and shine?
He didn't know.
And tonight, he didn't have the strength to pretend he did.
The dinner finally ended.
His parents left first, with his mother still clinging to his hand, trying to convince him to ride back home with them. "Just come with us, Ji Hyo. You'll sleep better in your own bed."
But Ji Hyo offered her a polite smile. "I really have practice early tomorrow, Mom. I'll be fine."
Reluctantly, she let go, though her eyes lingered with a mother's worry before she followed her husband out of the restaurant.
Ji Hyo exhaled in quiet relief… until the cold silence reminded him he wasn't alone.
His spine stiffened as he glanced to his side—and there he was.
His brother.
Ji Hwan Hyun.
Still standing near the table, hands casually tucked in his pockets, his gaze dark and unreadable.
"I told them I had matters to handle," Ji Hwan said calmly, his voice void of warmth. "But truthfully…" He took a step forward, eyes narrowing. "I stayed because I wanted to see just how thick your skin's gotten."
Ji Hyo blinked. "What…?"
Ji Hwan gave a hollow laugh. "You're great now, huh? Sitting there all quiet like you're innocent—like you've done nothing wrong."
Ji Hyo's brows furrowed. He genuinely didn't understand. "I don't know what you're talking about."
But those words only seemed to set Ji Hwan off.
He stepped closer and pushed Ji Hyo backward—hard enough to force a stumble.
"Don't play dumb with me," he growled. "Or is that part of your act too? Amnesia, huh? That's convenient."
Ji Hyo stared back, shocked. He couldn't even find words.
Ji Hwan's expression twisted with anger.
"Do you think changing your name, chasing this idol dream, suddenly makes you better than us? Do you think you can pretend none of it happened?"
Ji Hyo took a shaky breath. "I… don't know what you mean."
And again, that answer only deepened the fury in his brother's eyes.
"You really are shameless. Always have been."
Without warning, Ji Hwan slapped him across the face.
The sharp sound echoed through the empty lobby, and Ji Hyo staggered from the impact, a sting blooming across his cheek.
His mind froze.
He hadn't expected it—hadn't even known he should.
Ji Hwan didn't follow up. He only stood there for a moment, as if something in him had cracked… or perhaps, hesitated.
Then he turned, walking toward the exit.
But just before he reached the door, he looked over his shoulder once more—his voice colder than ever.
"You should've never come back."
And with that, he disappeared into the night, slipping into the back seat of his car before it drove away.
Ji Hyo stood there, frozen.
The burning sensation on his cheek paled in comparison to the confusion tightening his chest. He had no idea what the original Ji Hyo had done—what kind of past his brother was holding onto.
But whatever it was… it must've been something unforgivable.
Ji Hyo stood frozen outside the restaurant, his cheek still stinging from the slap. The cool breeze brushed against his skin, but it did little to ease the heat boiling under his confusion.
His brother's words echoed in his head like a storm on repeat.
"After everything you did… you still have the nerve to show your face."
"No matter how many kinds of amnesia you claim, you'll never be able to erase what you've done."
"You should've never come back."
Ji Hyo gritted his teeth.
"…What does that even mean…?"
He slowly walked away from the restaurant, mind spiraling in every direction. His steps were heavy, weighed down by thoughts he couldn't make sense of.
"Changing your name…"
"Pretending like nothing happened…"
He looked up at the sky, searching for something—anything—that could make sense of all this.
Then he heard it again.
That familiar mechanical chime in his head.
[Host appears emotionally unstable. Would you like to initiate a calming protocol?]
"…No," he muttered under his breath. "Don't give me that. I need answers, not yoga."
He paused in the empty sidewalk, eyes narrowing.
"System," he said sternly, "what did he mean by that? 'Changing names'? Am I not… Ji Hyo?"
There was a brief silence before the voice returned in its usual, neutral tone.
[Data not accessible at the host's current level.]
Ji Hyo's jaw clenched.
"You've got to be kidding me."
[Additional memory files and background data are currently classified. Host must progress further to unlock access.]
"That's all you ever say," he muttered bitterly. "Everything's locked… inaccessible… classified…"
He rubbed his temples, frustration building like a wildfire.
"Was Ji Hyo not even the real name? Was that part of the past life? Or part of the original body? Who am I even supposed to be?"
But of course, the system didn't respond to rhetorical questions.
Ji Hyo sighed deeply, dragging his feet back toward the nearest bus stop.
Now, doubt clawed at his mind in ways he hadn't expected.
Sure, he had already accepted that he had been pulled into a different life… into someone else's body… but this?
This was something else entirely.
A name… a past… a dark history no one would talk about—and a brother who clearly hated him enough to strike him in public.
And the worst part was… he didn't even know why.
"Just how many secrets are buried in this body?"
He slumped into a seat as the bus finally arrived. As it drove through the city, lights flickering past his window, Ji Hyo couldn't help but stare at his own reflection in the glass.
That face.
His face—but was it truly his?
There were shadows lurking in the gaps between his memories. Whispers in his dreams. Anger in the eyes of the people around him.
And the system?
Always watching. Always hiding something.
A part of him wished he could just be an ordinary trainee again. No system. No secrets. No twisted past to uncover.
But that wasn't the life he was given.
As Ji Hyo reached his apartment door and keyed in the passcode, the familiar system chime echoed in his mind.
[Side Task: "Hyun Family Dinner" – Completed]
Reward: Random Stat Upgrade Ticket – Received
He tossed his bag on the floor, kicked off his shoes, and collapsed face-first onto the bed. His cheek pressed against the pillow as he sighed heavily into the silence.
"Great. Emotional trauma, a cold father, a slap from a demon brother… but hey—yay, reward."
[Would you like to use your Random Stat Upgrade Ticket now?]
[Yes / No]
Ji Hyo didn't even hesitate.
"Yeah, yeah. Just use it."
[Random Stat Upgrade Ticket – Activated]
[Rolling... Target Stat Selected: Music Production]
[Music Production: E+ → D-]
Ji Hyo blinked and slowly turned to lie on his back, staring at the ceiling with one eye still squinting from exhaustion.
"...Music Production?"
He rubbed his eyes. "Huh… actually, that's not bad."
Not a bad stat to improve—especially since he had nothing but an E+ level before. He hadn't even touched music composition yet, but he remembered what the system said earlier—a top idol should at least understand the fundamentals of their own music.
[Stat Progress Updated: Music Production – D-]
[System Tip: Creating original pieces or participating in music arrangement will now yield higher growth efficiency.]
Ji Hyo smirked faintly.
"Guess that slap wasn't entirely in vain."
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the quiet of his room ease the heaviness in his chest. But deep inside, there was a lingering sense of unease—the tension between him and his brother, the cryptic way he kept referring to things Ji Hyo couldn't remember, and the ever-mounting pressure of his mission.
Still…
At least now, he had another stat moving forward.
One step closer.
"…Damn, I really am living inside a weird simulation game."
[Correction: This is not a game, Host.]
"I was being sarcastic," Ji Hyo muttered.
[Sarcasm detection: Noted.]
He groaned and rolled to the side, pulling his blanket over his head.
"Let me sleep before another side quest shows up."
[Understood. Sleep mode engaged. No notifications will be pushed for 8 hours unless urgent.]
"Finally, some peace..."
And just like that, he drifted into sleep—with a slightly better stat and a messier life than ever.